jaseisms

HWM February 2011: Behold The Seventh Coming!

2011-02-10T18:18:00.000+08:00

Find another fresh copy of HWM on the shelves of your favorite book and magazine stores today! This month, we're shining the spotlight on one of the biggest newsmakers so far in this young 2011 -- Microsoft's Windows Phone 7 mobile operating system!

Apple's iOS and Google's Android may be the buzzwords going around in the mobile phone circles right now, but that might just be about to change with the arrival of Microsoft's rejuvenated Windows Phone 7 platform. Read all about its distinguishing features in our main Feature! Plus, aside from the overview, the HWM Team has also put together a shootout featuring three premium Windows Phone 7 models, just so you'll know what to look for if you're aiming to be an early adopter.

Get all these, plus more exciting technology news, previews, and reviews this month -- only from HWM and Hardwarezone.com.ph!

Find more details about this issue right here.

More HWM goodness elsewhere on the wild, wide Web:

HWM January 2011: Still Rockin' In 2011!

2011-01-06T12:30:00.003+08:00

Jumpstart your new year with a fresh copy of HWM, as the only magazine that gives you The Power To Decide serves up a hearty selection of good reads covering the hottest trends and topics in the world of Computers, Consumer Electronics, and Communications!

In the hunt for some cool new gear to equip yourself for the year ahead? HWM's January 2011 issue presents a pair of exciting Multi-Tests featuring the next generation in digital imaging: mirrorless, interchangeable lens compact cameras, as well as affordable Android handsets for those who are looking to jump onto the smartphone bandwagon. Plus, an exciting lineup of new notebook PCs are reviewed in detail in our Lab Tests! Get all these, plus more exciting technology news, previews, and reviews this month -- only from HWM and Hardwarezone.com.ph!

Find more details about this issue right here.

Cheers!

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HWM December 2010: Closing The Year Out With A Bang!

2010-12-22T19:32:00.000+08:00

Didja know? HWM turns 6 years old with this month's issue so come celebrate with us!

In this issue, you'll get a couple of exciting shootouts in our Multi-Test section, as powerful yet compact prosumer digital cameras and a trio of premium 3D HDTVs are reviewed and compared to decide which ones get the coveted HWM Best Performance and Best Value plums. Plus! Given that it's our anniversary issue and the final one for the year, we have a special Feature revealing HWM's top ten technological breakthroughs of the decade. Curious to find out what we think changed the courses of our lives most during the past ten years? It's all here.

Want to know more? Check this out and have fun! "'Tis the season," after all! ;)

Cheers!

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HWM Presents: Gift Guide 2011!

2010-12-22T18:56:00.002+08:00

Still not haven't figured out what to give your loved ones this Christmas? Then check out HWM's Gift Guide 2011, out on shelves now! This one, as with all other HWM Gift Guides from the previous years, presents nothing but the best gift ideas the exciting world of the 3 Cs (Computers, Consumer Electronics, and Communications) have to offer to close out the year and to kickstart a brand new one!

With a grand selection of over 300 products inside, this Gift Guide is designed to help you celebrate the cutting-edge lifestyle -- whether you're into Mobility, Computing, Imaging, Entertainment, or simply modern home Living!

Check it out!

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POTD: Partying Down With KFC's Double Down

2010-11-12T20:16:00.002+08:00

So today, I learned that the fabled "KFC Double Down" burger has finally made it to our local KFC outlets. Needless to say, the curiosity had to be addressed.

(For those who aren't familiar with the Double Down, it's sparked interest across teh intarnets several months back with its compelling proposition of serving slices of bacon and cheese, garnished with mayo, and sandwiched between two fried chicken patties (instead of bread). While it won't win any Nobel Prizes anytime soon, it's certainly merited its share of spots on thisiswhyyourefat.com.)

So anyway, here's my dinner for tonight:

Exhibit A:

Hmmm... Not exactly how I pictured it based on them posters...

Exhibits B and C:

Half-eaten or half-whole (eh?)? It's all a matter of perspective.

Exhibit D:

WTFsmudges on the wrapper! (Thank goodness all that oil was able to mask the taste of the toner...)

So how'd I find it? Let's break it down in classic HWM fashion:

Physique: 7.5
Features: 9.5
User-friendliness: 8.0
Performance: 7.5
Value: 7.5

Overall: 8.0

Final thought:
I personally wouldn't recommend ordering one of these if you're, say, trying to recover from a hangover. (With that said, I now take my leave for I must call for crows in the vernacular... if you catch my drift.)

HWM November 2010: Searching For The Perfect Music Companion

2010-11-10T21:21:00.000+08:00

HWM this November is dedicated to all of us who love music -- regardless of where it's played.

In our cover story for the month, HWM talks about headphones of all shapes and sizes, of course with the aim of helping you, our dear reader choose the right one to suit your tastes and needs. On top of that, we also throw in a couple of Multi-Tests, both still tuned in to the subject of sweet sounds. If you're on the hunt for a premium docking system for your iPod or for a simple surround sound system (i.e. soundbars), then check out this issue and you'll be well pleased.

Of course, that's just the tip of the iceberg for this issue. We've got loads more in store to feed your tech-hungry minds, and here's a quick preview for you!

Cheers!

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POTD: Care for Some Cheese in Your Coffee?

2010-11-10T20:52:00.000+08:00

Is it just me or is this coffee just a little too... umm... cheesy?

(Thanks for the linkage, G!)

Get more random win here.

POTD: Pick Your Poison

2010-11-08T18:49:00.001+08:00

Win.

Just to get this shit going again.

Thank you, BBZ!

HWM October 2010: Now, THAT's Entertainment!

2010-10-20T18:23:00.000+08:00

This month's HWM (sorry about the late post, folks! Been busy. :p) is dedicated to your entertainment. And why not? Everybody deserves a chance to unwind, and what better way to do so than chill with some quality multimedia from the comfort of your very own home.

In this month's issue, we'll give you everything you need to know about how to build that dream home entertainment setup. From the perfect TV set to its related premium accessories, we've got you covered on all the essentials for creating that cinema-in-the-living-room experience. If your budget is a little tight though, you still have no reason to worry. We've got a pair of Multi-Tests on affordable HDTV options, as well as on the latest network media players to satisfy your media cravings as you demand it.

If you think that's all we have in store for you this October, then think again! As always there's more content to help you gain "The Power To Decide" in these pages -- from news to product showcases to even more full reviews to even contests! (Click here to learn much more about 'em!)

Enjoy!

Check out more HWM goodness out there on the wide, wild Web:

Photo(s) of the Day: The Big Blue Eagle Bonfire 2010

2010-10-05T19:36:00.002+08:00

Yeah, you know what this is: it's a celebration, bitches!

Check out my share of shots from Sunday's Big Blue Eagle Bonfire on Multiply and on Facebook! It's got booze, boys, girls, a far-away stage with people on it and even more people right in front of it, and best of all, animated gifs! Hurray!

Video of the Day (Yesterday): The NBA's Back! (Kinda...)

2010-10-05T19:18:00.000+08:00

Knicks vs AJ Milano via NBA.com

This was yesterday's preseason game actually, but I wasn't able to post due to my current Internetical limitations. Still, it's nice to see some good ol' Amar'e action, even though he's rocking some new threads now.

Video of the Day: I Gotta Fly CebPac Soon

2010-10-02T22:16:00.002+08:00

This clip has been making the rounds on teh Facebooksies since yesterday and I would've already posted it here as well -- but then, it would've just stuck out like a sore thumb among my other gloat-fueled posts...

Aaaaaaaanyway, hooray for Philippine tourism! :p

(Via wingco1129)

VOTD #2: The Road to Three-Peat Glory In Four And A Half Minutes

2010-10-01T18:33:00.001+08:00

See if you could spot the main highlight in this clip. Hint: It's somewhere around 3:35.

(Thanks, Aaron Vicencio!)

POTD #2: The Ryan-JR Matchup

2010-10-01T15:35:00.001+08:00

Ryan: GRARGH! *layup* Meh.

JR: FFFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!!!!

(Via Aaron Vicencio's eyes.)

Song of the Day: Winner - Jamie Foxx (Feat. Justin Timberlake and T.I.)

2010-10-01T11:30:00.001+08:00

Still ridin' high on the feeling, so please pardon me as I bask in the glory. :p

(via jamiefoxx)

Video of the Day #1: The Shot

2010-10-01T06:59:00.000+08:00

Watch it happen at 0:24.

Dammit, napuwing na naman ata ako...

(Here's a longer clip covering a few more plays leading to The Shot and the aftermath thereof. Of note is Paul Sanga's Nick Anderson impression at 1:10. Teehee.)

Photo of the Day: Sarap Maging Buenafriend

2010-10-01T00:03:00.010+08:00

We've said it before, and we'll say it again and again.

Sarap maging Buenafriend. Ryan da best.

Good job, Ateneo Blue Eagles. So nice, you've won it thrice.

(Photo from the 2008 Big Blue Eagle Bonfire)

LOTD #2: Amar'e Stoudemire - Hope In Shorts

2010-09-27T22:23:00.000+08:00

Hope In Shorts

This piece has got 'hype machine' written all over it, but hey, I'm buying it. I'm excited to see how well Amar'e will fare with his new crew.

GOTD: HWZ Reviews the Canon PowerShot S95

2010-09-27T21:52:00.000+08:00

Canon PowerShot S95 - HardwareZone.com

Here's the review I've been waiting for from our HQ team! Still waiting to convince myself that it's worth shelling out for though. :p

LOTD: The Quest For Every Beard Type

2010-09-27T21:35:00.002+08:00

The Quest For Every Beard Type

Mad props to this dude for his persistence. I'm rootin' for him to rock the Super Mario someday...

On my end? I'm pretty sure I'm already contented with my bir-- err, i mean, beard.

(Thanks, Eums! Theums!)

Video of the Day (VOTD): Girls' Generation Goes 8-bit

2010-09-25T09:32:00.001+08:00

This one goes out to all the closet Kpop fans such as myself. :p

SNSD da best.

(via allkpop.com)

Gear of the Day (GOTD): Canon's Winter Wonderland Product Launch

2010-09-24T13:33:00.001+08:00

'Tis the Season to be Delighted: Canon Brings Early Good Tidings With Latest Releases!

Coverage for last Tuesday's event held at the EDSA Shangri-La Hotel. Words and event photos by yours truly.

Video of the Day (VOTD): Pokémon Apokélypse: Live Action Trailer HD

2010-09-23T06:13:00.000+08:00

This shit could give Mortal Kombat: Rebirth a run for its money. Awesome stuff for something fan-made.

(via: Shogun Gamer)

Song of the Day (SOTD): Pomplamoose - September (Earth, Wind & Fire Cover)

2010-09-21T20:48:00.007+08:00

Because it's September. And the twenty-first night. And I remembered.

(More Pomplamoose here! Plus their newest one!)

LOTD #2: The Daily Bunny

2010-09-20T21:46:00.003+08:00

The Daily Bunny

Because, hey, everybody needs a bunny a day.

Link of the Day (LOTD) #1: Want Some Filipino Batman?

2010-09-20T21:11:00.006+08:00

Want Some Filipino Batman?

Mark Millar may have preferred Twilight: Eclipse over Iron Man 2, but at least he knows a good Batman when he sees one.

HWM September 2010: Your Office, Upgraded

2010-09-02T17:15:00.007+08:00

HWM talks business once again this month as the only mag that gives you The Power To Decide takes a look at more business notebooks and the latest iteration of the popular Microsoft Office productivity suite.

MS Office 2010 takes productivity to new heights with convenient and professional-friendly new features, including enhanced accessibility via mobile phone and the Internet, and the HWM team covers everything you need to know about it in this month's main Feature. If you're more concerned about the hardware though (this is, after all, HardwareMAG), our Multi-Test should be your highlight of the month, as four of your best bets for a reliable and value-friendly business notebook PC take the stage for another exciting shootout.

Those are just a couple of the main stories for the month. Of course, there's more to watch out for in this issue if you're looking for your monthly dose of updates, news, and reviews from the exciting world of the 3 Cs. (Click here to learn much, much more about this issue's contents!)

Enjoy!

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HWM August 2010: Redefining The Mobile Phone

2010-08-06T09:00:00.000+08:00

Catch up with the latest in mobile technology this month on HWM!

In this issue, read all about how today's best mobile phones are defined not by specs alone, but by the diversity and quality of apps that they can support. Our special feature covers this topic specifically, giving the lowdown on some of the best apps available for today's most popular mobile platforms, from Android, to Windows Mobile, to Symbian, to the iPhone OS, and more!

Plus, if you're in the market for a new smartphone, how about some Android? Our Multi-Test showcases five of the hottest Android handsets available today, unraveling the details behind each one's design, handling, and performance to help you choose the best one for your needs.

Those are just the main stories for this issue, but you know you can expect more from the HWM team, right? So head on out to your suking magazine vendor and get all the latest news, previews, and reviews that you've come to know and love from our rag.

Enjoy!

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HWM July 2010: Seeing The Bigger Picture With Smaller Tools

2010-07-18T19:33:00.004+08:00

As the digital photography wave grows ever larger, HWM tackles another growing trend this July: the incredible shrinking digital camera.

In this issue's cover story, the HWM team tackles the growing popularity of compact interchangeable lens system cameras, a trend which seems to be following closely after the increasingly consumer-friendly digital SLR camera. How did such technology for these cameras come about and what does its availability mean for shutterbugs and common consumers alike? These questions and more are discussed in this month's main Feature.

We also throw in a bunch of other exciting reads for you this month, including a Multi-Test featuring some of the latest superzoom digital cameras available out there. Plus, you'll still get your fill of the latest tech news, updates, and promos in your favorite HWM sections.

Cheers!

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HWM June 2010: Gettin' Bizzy Wit' It

2010-06-14T11:08:00.002+08:00

HWM goes no-nonsense this June as your favorite 3 Cs resource focuses on business-primed tech.

Find out what defines a business notebook in our main Feature and take your pick from our contending projectors in our comprehensive Multi-Test. Plus, we add head-to-head comparisons of network attached storage (NAS) devices and premium multifunction inkjet printers in our Mini-Tests to help you equip your workplace with versatile, reliable solutions.

Aside from the above, there's still a lot more in store for you, dear reader, in our regular Scene/Trends, Gear, and Lab Test sections. If you're curious to learn more, please click on this link.

Enjoy!

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HWM May 2010: Are You Ready To Be Entertained?

2010-05-14T18:23:00.003+08:00

Prepare to be entertained this May as HWM's latest ish serves up all you need to know about digital home entertainment today and more!

In our cover story, we're checking out the latest resurgence of the 3D entertainment. Why? Well, because it's all over the place! Sparked by the resounding success of James Cameron's Avatar late last year, TV makers have been making a strong push into bringing the 3D standard into the home -- and quite impressively, the new TVs are practically knocking at our doors already! Read up on the HWM team's thoughts on this exciting development and its impending impact on consumers, manufacturers, and the film-making industry itself.

But as for those who have yet to even hop onto the high-def bandwagon, a couple more articles should keep you interested. Check out our Multi-Test for a selection of Blu-ray players that you can score even if you're keeping the budget tight. Meanwhile, in our Mini-Test, we have a trio of LCD TVs that deliver well enough on the HD promise without demanding too much from your pockets.

If you think that's exciting already, wait till you see what else is in the issue: we've got essential office gear from HP, NVIDIA's latest graphics cards showcased and reviewed, a chance to win a Casio G-Shock watch, and tons more, so go check us out! Cheers!

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HWM Presents: The PC Report: A Technology Overview For Modern Computing

2010-04-28T11:00:00.003+08:00

HWM serves up another supplement magazine for this month for technology fans who want to catch up with the latest in the realm of personal computing.

The PC Report: A Technology Overview For Modern Computing is designed as a one-stop resource for the latest updates on the state of the most relevant technologies involved in the computer industry -- from full-fledged desktop and mobile PC systems, to components such as processing, graphics, and storage. This supplement also covers non-hardware related developments such as the recently released Windows 7 operating system.

Check it out at your favorite bookstore today! Enjoy!

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HWM April 2010: It's A Small World After All

2010-04-12T09:25:00.002+08:00

A fresh issue of HWM greets you at your favorite magazine stands this week, so go pick one up and get the Power to Decide in an instant!

This month, we have for you exciting Multi-Tests featuring the latest and most exciting all-in-one devices available today. There's one that features AIO desktop PCs for the modern home, and another that showcases multi-function laser printers for the ever-busy workplace. We also throw in a special look at the evolution of gaming on the mobile platform, so if you were ever a fan of the Game 'N Watch or the Game Boy back then, or perhaps the Sony PSP today, then this is one Feature story that might tickle your fancy.

In this issue, HWM also brings back its Spotlight section, where the Team's recent out-of-town and out-of-country trips to cover exciting tech events and presentations are highlighted. Check out this month's magazine to learn more about where LG, Epson, Sony, and Samsung brought the HWM Team.

This all seems quite a handful already, but trust us, there's a lot more cool stuff to find in April's HWM. We've still got the hottest news, previews, and full product reviews -- not to mention, chances to win really cool stuff (especially a special treat from HTC for our lady readers).

Cheers!

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HWM March 2010: Awesome Gets A New Look

2010-03-08T12:00:00.000+08:00

Watch out for a new-look HWM at your favorite book and magazine store this month!

Your favorite resource for all things 3 Cs (Computers, Consumer Electronics, and Communications) now comes in a refreshing new format that's definitely candy to the eyes, but still keeps everything you know and love about the mag in place. ;)

In HWM's March issue are various stories covering today's wide world of wireless technologies, a QWERTY smartphone shootout, previews of exciting new releases from CES 2010 (along with the Google Nexus One and Apple iPad, to boot), and full reviews of ASUS' fashionista-friendly Karim Rashid Eee PC, the LG Borderless SL90 LED TV, Norton Internet Security 2010, and a whole bunch more!

Oh, and I must say, the Ed's Note page is particularly pretty awesome as well. :p

Ch-ch-ch-check it out, folks!

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HWM February 2010: Showcasing Digital Cameras, Netbooks On Windows 7, Tech Predictions For 2010, And More In The Month Of Love!

2010-02-08T18:34:00.005+08:00

The HWM Team's latest labor of love is out so go check it out at your favorite bookstore! Click here to learn more about what's inside this month's issue. ;)

And don't forget: there's more HWM goodness online! Check us out on:

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Quezon-City/HWM-Philippines/89531031842?ref=ts
Twitter: http://twitter.com/hwzph
Hardwarezone: http://www.hardwarezone.com.ph/
In The Zone: http://www.hardwarezone.com.ph/inthezone/

Comics For Sale!

2010-01-17T10:58:00.005+08:00

Hello, everyone!

I'm selling a bunch of my old comics, most of them in TPB format. I've summarized everything in a file that I've uploaded on Google Docs, so just click here if you wanna check it out. Hope you find something you like! :)

By the way, please note that the Dollar-Peso conversion indicated in the file is based on current rates, so the Peso price there does not necessarily match the books' value on the local market when they came out (i.e. they still cost more out there :p).

(Image courtesy of Superherotimes.com)

HWM January 2010: Kicking Off Another Year Of Awesome Tech!

2010-01-15T12:05:00.003+08:00

Hey, everyone! HWM's January 2010 issue should already be available on your favorite bookstore's magazine shelves, so go check it out!

This month, we're featuring the top tech from 2009 plus our cover story, an exciting Shootout among six top touchscreen smartphones! Aside from that, we also have a full-length Feature on the Android OS, a closer look into today's mobile-centric world, and even a chance to win a cool (literally!), new graphics card! Plus, there's another round of HTC user trials, this time featuring their Android OS handsets!

It's a brand new year, so let's start it off blazing! Cheers!

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On another note, Hardwarezone.com.ph is now on Twitter! Follow us here!

I Really Oughta Start Working on That Rule No. 1...

2010-01-14T23:49:00.007+08:00

Something worth worrying (or getting excited) about?

Karlo: dude, you watching what's happening in haiti?
jase: unfortunately no
Karlo: do you realize that with all those people dead, the country's surviving witch doctors will attempt to raise them all.
jase: ohhh shit
Karlo: bringing forth the zombie apocalypse.
Karlo: world war Z na!
jase: tangina!
jase: i need to work on rule no.1!
Karlo: hahahahaah
Karlo: CARDIO!
jase: oo!
jase: dun pa lang, yari na ko
jase: (chuckle)
Karlo: ihanda na ang mga...
Karlo: PLANTS!
jase: oye!
jase: yun pa yung isang conspiracy theory ko
jase: yung zombie apocalypse, plano talaga ng mga tree huggers/eco activists
jase: magdedevelop at magkakalat ng zombie virus
Karlo is typing a message.
Karlo: hahahah
jase: para mapilitan ang mga tao na magtanim nang magtanim

Zombies. Gotta love 'em.

(With apologies, of course, to the victims of the tragic events currently affecting Haiti. Sincerely, my heart goes out to all of you.)

(Image courtesy of icanhascheezburger.com)

Suns vs Celtics: Live Blog

2009-12-31T08:48:00.008+08:00

What a nice break. Three live Suns games to feed my newfound drive to blog again. Granted, I'm back to my old ways of talking non-stop about a certain professional basketball team from Arizona... But hey, I suppose that's better than just having monthly posts where I simply pimp my mag.

Today, Phoenix faces Boston for the second time this season. The last time they met, the Suns came out with the surprise win, 110-103, and that was on the road. Here's hoping they fare just as well in this home game.

1st Quarter

12:00 - Celtics are playing without both Pierce and Garnett. I have no idea why. :p

8:16 - Game being played in a fast up and down pace. Ray Allen puts Celts up, 12-8, on a driving layup.

7:30 - Frye takes a three off the inbound and hits! Carlo, will not approve. :p

5:00 - Suns up 10! They're doing well so far defensively and blocking out for rebounds.

4:17 - STAT 6 of 6 now, and the Suns are up, 24-12.

3:54 - Ooh! Tough fall for both Rondo and Amare. Break still goes PHX's way! Charge on Rondo.

2:32 - Suns call for timeout, up 26-14. Good job so far on taking advantage of Garnett and Pierce's absence.

2:23 - Amare has 16 points and 6 boards already. Monster game in the making!

End of 1Q - 30-20 PHX

2nd Quarter

11:30 - Tough break for Amare early in the second. Early 2nd foul sends him to the bench.

9:56 - Channing Frye showing some promising new effort in disrupting shots. His second block of the game leads to a shotclock violation for Boston.

9:31 - Bench continuing to play well. Lead padded up to 36-21. Yay!

6:46 - Nice penetration by Ray Allen for the Celts. Dropoff to Kendrick Perkins gets the big guy a lay-in plus a foul. Missed free throw though.

6:21 - Leandro with a loooooong three to beat the shot clock buzzer! Suns up, 44-30.

5:31 - Oh boy. Looks like Grant Hill took a Tony Allen elbow in the eye in the previous play. No foul called. Hope it's nothing serious.

5:09 - Ouch. Amare makes a dumb foul on a rebound play.

4:39 - Eddie House is a specimen. Wish I could shoot like he can.

3:29 - Speaking of... Eddie just hit his second long jumper in a row. Suns lead is down to 9, 48-39.

3:22 - Holy crap. Update on Grant Hill: He got his contact lens knocked into the back of his eye. He's fine and the contact lens has been put back in place, but fuck, that's scary. I wear contacts when I play!

3:11 - Steve Nash. Just creative. Scoring pace is picking up again. Suns lead it, 51-39.

1:54 - Woo! Boston almost cut the lead down to 7, but Tony Allen gets called for the charge. Close call.

52:0 - Channing Frye and Ray Allen trade corner threes. Fun stuff. Haha. 54-45 PHX.

32.6 - Frye with three again off a Nash assist, keeping the Celtics at bay. Wish I could shoot like he can. :p

End of 2Q - 61-49 PHX. Suns doing well holding off Celtics' surges. Amare's foul trouble hurts. Suns probably would be up bigger if he were able to stay on the court. For Boston, Ray Allen is starting to pick up his scoring towards the end of the half. A good start to the second half should be crucial for both teams.

3rd Quarter

11:44 - Ahhh, tough luck on Amare! Rondo gets tripped up and he gets called for it. 4 on him already.

9:10 - Boston's already taking advantage of the STAT foul situation. Lead's down to 63-54.

8:18 - Nash sets up Amare for a dunk. That oughta get him back in the flow of things. I hope...

6:27 - Frye puts Suns back up, 71-55 off another Nash-fed assist. Amare starting to look lost on offense though. Tricky situation for him, not being able to be as active as he'd like to be due to the fouls.

5:44 - Sheed with the airball from three. He's out of sync in this one, otherwise he should be one of the primary threats Boston has.

4:40 - Whoa. Suns up by 20 now.

3:48 - Grant Hill got clobbered but no foul called. Boo!

2:35 - Ooh, pretty move by Rajon Rondo, getting fouled on the layup, bad hamstring and all. He hits the bonus free throw, too.

56.9 - Frye hits his fifth three-pointer, answering Eddie House's from the previous play. Suns lead is kept at 15, 87-73.

24.9 - Oops. That last one was ruled as a two, apparently. This one, though, is Frye's fifth. Commentator Eddie Johnson has come up with a new nickname for Channing, The Invisible Man, because "the Celtics aren't seeing him." :p

End of 3Q - 90-73 PHX.

4th Quarter

10:58 - Eddie House and Ray Allen are on the floor, still posing as potential threats for the Boston side. Ray Allen hasn't been feeling it today though.

10:10 - Commentators comparing Jared Dudley and Shawn Marion. Haha. No contest skills-wise, if you ask me, but as far as reliability on the court goes, I love 'em both!

7:58 - Channing hits a sixth three! How many times has he done that this season? I hear commentators mention it's a record for NBA centers. Gotta check on that later.:p

7:36 - Score check: 102-83 PHX. How sweet it is. Hahaha.

5:26 - Officially garbage time from this point on. Suns bench given some burn.

4:07 - Yay! Earl Clark scores! Can't wait for this guy to be a regular rotation player for Phoenix. He looks promising.

2:58 - Sweet assist off the offensive rebound by Clark to Dragic. See what I'm talking about? :p

40.9 - Celtic Shelden Williams misses a fastbreak dunk with just Goran Dragic challenging. Granted Boston recovers and still gets an alley-oop dunk in the succeeding play, but still, talk about a bad game for Boston.

Final: 116-98 PHX!

* * *

Nice finish to a terrible month for the Suns. They wrap December up with 7 wins and 9 losses, with the last two wins coming against the last two champs. Whodathunk? Granted, they had undermanned opponents and homecourt advantage working in their favor, but given the awful games they dropped against supposedly easily beatable teams, they sure could use such "excuses" to get them back on track. :p

Amare Stoudemire and Channing Frye were big in this game. Amare did the damage on the offense early, but then foul trouble had him pining on the bench for the rest of the game. Still, he managed 26 points on 11 of 14 shooting in less than 23 minutes, thanks to the hot start. Frye then practically shouldered the load while Amare was out, and his timely threes and long jumpers served to thwart any Boston comeback attempts. He finished with 26 points of his own, a season-best for him. He also grabbed 10 rebounds and had 2 assists and 2 blocks in a solid all-around effort. Unlike last game, the Suns didn't need to rely on the bench much as they took control early. Leandro Barbosa played a sterling game though and finished with 17 points and 4 assists.

Boston was already in a tough situation coming in, what with injuries to five players including three of their starters (Garnett, Pierce, and Rondo) as well as being at the tail-end of a tough four-game road swing. It clearly showed in their game, as Ray Allen and Rasheed Wallace, the next best options on the team, found it difficult to carry their team. Allen finished with 15 points on just 4 of 13 shooting. Sheed did much worse with just 6 points on 3 of 11, "playing like an old man," as the commentators put it at one point. Eddie House was the lone bright spot for the Celts, scoring 19 points with 5 of 7 3-point shooting.

That said, it's off to another month for the Suns. Their remaining schedule suggests that the hard part's mostly over, so there's reason to hope for good things beyond April next year.

Box Score here.

Recap here.

(Images courtesy of Getty Images and the Associated Press, via Yahoo! Sports)

Suns vs Lakers: Live Blog

2009-12-29T10:01:00.008+08:00

Excellent! Another chance for another live blog. The Suns are hosting the Lakers today... Here comes the pain!

1st Quarter

11:47 - Gasol opens up the scoring. Hits two in the lane.

10:06 - Grant Hill zips through on the fastbreak for his second field goal! Suns up, 6-2!

9:33 - Yikes. Two turnovers already for Nash. Gotta keep those in check.

7:40 - Amare and Kobe trading jumpers from the perimeter. Haha. Nice.

7:25 - Whoa, Amare! Easy on the temper! Hard foul on Bynum. Lucky he wasn't called for the T.

6:47 - Kobe hits two freebies to make it 12-10 Lakers. Shakes the pain off his injured finger again. The dude's a warrior, fo sho.

5:49 - Suns getting killed down low. Lakers up 16-10 on Bynum's two free throws off another shooting foul.

4:59 - RoLo with a nice tip-in to save an almost broken play.

4:44 - Bynum makes PHX pay inside again. Lakers up, 18-13.

3:38 - Jared Dudley wide open for the dunk. Nice find by Nash!

3:09 - Dudley does a Nash with RoLo for a wide open layup to give the Suns a 20-18 lead. Woo! Moar plz! kthx.

2:58 - Lakers apparently are shooting just 29% from the field. But the game's tied thanks to free throws.

2:06 - Robin Lopez is giving the Suns a better chance at the offensive boards. Gotta figure out a way to keep him on the floor longer.

1:39 - Poor defensive rotation leaves Adam Morrison(!) wide open for a three.

44.5 - Amare getting hammered in the post. He better keep his head in the game. 1 of 2 from the line. Game tied at 23.

00.0 -Robin Lopez beats the first quarter buzzer. SRSLY. Solid game off the bench so far. 6pts (3-3 shooting) and 3 boards. Very nice.

End of 1Q - 25-23 PHX

2nd Quarter

11:42 - Barbosa with a three to open the second quarter. Suns bench contributing early.

11:15 - TV commentators announce that Suns are outrebounding Lakers, 18-13. That's good news. Suns up, 30-23.

10:53 - Suns padding up lead. 32-23 off Barbosa free throws. I'm enjoying this while it lasts. :p

10:22 - WTF! Channing Frye misses a dunk! Sayang yung drive!

9:58 - Man, you gotta love Jared Dudley. Dude's really active. 3-point play puts Suns up 10.

9:18 - Lakers blow a 2-on-1 fastbreak! Weeee! :p

8:44 - TV coverage displays bench discrepancy. Suns 21 pts, 10 rebs vs Lakers 7 pts, 1 reb. Commentators also point out key absences for LA though (Artest and Walton). At least, we're seeing the Suns taking advantage of the situation so far.

7:35 - Gasol is too hard to stop down low. Suns need to deny the lobs and keep Lakers out on perimeter.

5:44 - Six-point swing by LA. Score's at 42-36 Suns.

5:09 - Lakers are beginning to be more active in the passing lanes. Almost another steal right here.

5:02 - Amare back in the game and fishes for Bynum's 3rd foul. 3-point play puts PHX back up by 9.

4:51 - Whoa. Kobe throws up a brick. Story of the 1st half (LA's 34% FG shooting)?

2:31 - Ahhh, me and my big mouth. Kobe hits LA's last 5 points. Suns' lead is down to five, 48-43.

2:09 - Kobe again! Dayum!

1:59 - Oooh, Amare misses a dunk, too! Suns grab offensive board though. Lakers are within three.

1:34 - RoLo with nice D on Gasol. Thank goodness. Nice time for him to have a good game.

29.3 - Amare with last three field goals for Suns. 54-48.

End of 2Q - 56-50 PHX. (Yay!)

3rd Quarter

10:43 - Frye and STAT have padded up PHX lead to 10 early in the third.

8:31 - Tough fastbreak miss by Grant Hill. They had a 3-on-1 on that one. Tsk.

7:58 - Nice to see Amare leading West centers in the All-Star balloting. :p

6:53 - Kobe punishing J-Rich on defense. J-Rich gets three quick fouls. All in the 3rd.

5:57 - Frye for three! Suns up 70-62!

5:21 - Nash also hits from downtown! It's 73-64 for PHX.

4:51 - Lakers getting frustrated. D-Fish gets called for a T for the second motion following the foul call.

3:58 - Woooo! After a nice defensive play, Frye hits a three and Jared gets fouled in the same play. Jared misses the FT though.

3:39 - Another Suns defensive stop(!) results into another three, this time courtesy of J-Rich. Suns are rolling! 82-66!

55.9 - Amare redeems himself with a big dunk over Bynum after Andrew blocked him on the previous play.

28.3- Kobe doing everything to keep Lakers alive. Don't forget, he's playing hurt. You just gotta give props to the man's heart.

End of 3Q - 89-77 PHX!

4th Quarter

9:34 - PHX bench really doing a good job, protecting the lead. Everyone from Jared, to Leandro, to Goran, to Robin have hit to keep the Lake Show at bay.

9:21 - Jared Dudley forces the jumpball on the block on Andrew Bynum... and plays the jump smart! He doesn't go up for the tip, but instead goes for the ball after Bynum taps it! Awesome heads up play by Jared!

7:32 - Jared Dudley hits another three. I love him. *heartbubbles*

6:51 - Dragic wants some love too. He hits the corner three as well. Sweet dropoff by Leandro.

3:59 - Suns not done yet. Amare with the big dunk, plus one, on Mbenga.

3:27 - Nash follows with a three of his own. Suns domination reads 116-94. Sweet!

1:28 - Rookie Earl Clark is in. But DJ Mbenga erases his layup attempt. Tough love for the kid. :p

Final: PHX 118, LAL 103

* * *

Is that a zoom lens in your sweatpants, Goran, or are you just excited to kick some Laker ass?

Well, this one turned out waaaaaaay better than expected. After disappointing losses to beatable Oklahoma and Golden State in the past week, this certainly comes as a pleasant development for the Suns, whose next opponent is Boston to wrap up a tough December schedule.

I'm giving the game ball to Jared Dudley, who led the bench with 19 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, and all-around smart play (damn, I still can't get over his jumpball play genius :p). Actually, looking back at my game notes, I must say it was really the bench that delivered this win. Robin Lopez's effective inside presence helped even things out at the end of the 1st quarter. Dragic and Barbosa hit both from outside and on their trademark quick drives. Great job dominating against their Hollywood counterparts.

It also helps that Phoenix manage to keep up on the rebounding battle, finishing even with LA with 43 boards for the game. Plus, as I've mentioned before, it really does matter when Nash is scoring less and distributing more. Granted, Steve still scored 16 to go along with his 13 assists, but a bunch of those points came with the game already decided.

On the Lakers' end, they were playing shorthanded, what with Ron Artest and Luke Walton both out with injuries, and Kobe playing with a broken finger (imagine if he were healthy, he would've burned the Suns with another 50-point night :|). Lamar Odom also seemed to have been hurt in a play in this game, although he did still manage a 9-point, 13-board performance.

Regardless, at the end of the day, the Phoenix Suns beat the LA Lakers today. And that's just fucking sweet. :p

Box Score here.

Recap here.

(Images courtesy of Getty Images, via Yahoo! Sports)

Kick-Ass, Indeed.

2009-12-26T12:24:00.006+08:00

(Art by John Romita, Jr., Tom Palmer, and Dean White.)

Just finished reading the comics up to its latest ish (#7) and am now officially hyped to see it on the big screen. Mark Millar's love for blood-drenched action is just fucking insane! Gotta love it.

Here's hoping it's better than the Angelina Jolie-flavored adaptation of Wanted (although the early trailers are pretty darn encouraging). :p

Follow these links, you geeky freak!

kickass-themovie.com - for official trailers, official posters, and other similarly official stuff.
I am Hit-Girl - red band trailer starring the dangerously adorable Hit-Girl. (Thanks again, ZodiacTrailers!)
Hit-Girl's first appearance - wicked cool sneak preview (taken from some Comic Con?) via Madstick's awesome video vault.

Kick-Ass comes out in US theaters in April 16, 2010. Hopefully it does so too around here. :p

Avatar is Epic in All Three Dimensions

2009-12-25T12:00:00.005+08:00

I have to admit, I almost let this one slip away, with the intention of just grabbing it off teh interwebs. Thank goodness then that I allowed myself to be swayed by all the feedback that I've been getting about this movie. With that said, here are my thoughts on this excellent watch:

Man, am I glad I listened to everyone who told me to see this in 3D! It's quite the experience, I have tell you. Well, well worth the ticket price, considering how much of a cheapskate I am. :p
I'm pretty sure Avatar set a new benchmark for me and Mace as far as movie-going is concerned. I'm now more willing to spend for 3D cinemas thanks to this good shit.
I think I actually saw this movie back in the 90s; only it went by the title, "FernGully: The Last Rainforest." Seriously though, it's sad to see that after a couple of decades, we're still trying to send the same social message (read: man is a monster :p) -- except this time, there are far more guns and missiles and explosions. Oh, and robot suits, too. :|
On the bright side, there is a lot more boobies here -- that is, if CGI cat-person boobies are your thing... :|
I think I'm going to re-watch FernGully later. Thank goodness for torrents.
While we're on the subject of cartoons, let me just declare that I have no idea what Avatar: The Last Airbender is about.
Aaaaaaanyway... Dayum, the creature designs were awesome! I'm still geeking out thinking about Pandora's diverse fauna (this resource certainly helps). Those fan lizards were just ridiculous, though.
Speaking of creatures, let me just say this: I got dibs on being the next Toruk Makto. kthx. Just don't ask me how I plan to interface with the toruk... :s
Well, yes. Of course, the human armory was pretty awesome, too. But really, can you side with them in this case? :p
Oh, and about those humans... Wasn't that colonel dude the same guy from Small Soldiers? :p
Given how awesome the 3D experience was with this movie, I wonder how it would fare in the humble DVD format... Granted, there's HD (plus the prospect of 3D TVs a few years down the road), but realistically speaking, DVD's the only reasonably option within my means at the moment. :p
I've come across some comments by some people dissing Avatar just because its director, James Cameron, also came out with Titanic earlier. Seriously? Come on. Avatar is a different animal altogether.
I still can't get over that Toruk Makto shit. That would easily get me from Malate to Libis easier everyday. Not to mention, it's. Just. Plain. Awesome.
This one just hit me yesterday. Since Jake Sully is Perseus in next year's Clash of the Titans, it would be awesome if we could hear Medusa say "I see you" to him. Probably not gonna happen. But hey, a nerd could dream... Nyork nyork.

(Images courtesy of Wikipedia, collider.com, and nytimes.com)

Suns vs Thunder: Live Blog

2009-12-24T13:02:00.002+08:00

Nice Christmas Eve morning here, finally getting a chance to catch a Suns game live on TV again. Live blog time!

1st Quarter

12:00 - Tipoff!

10:56 - Kevin Durant. Sweet shot by the kid.

10:47 - STAT power move in the lane, plus one!

8:13 - Nash finds J-Rich cutting in the paint. Second time in the first quarter. Nice.

7:00 - Russell Westrbook hits a J from the key. I'm liking OKC's young core of Durant, Green, Westbrook and Thefolosha. Hope they get an upgrade at the center position soon.

6:18 - Another strong leftie drive by Amare.

5:25 - Not much going on, but Thunder up by 7. Suns finding it hard to hit.

4:47 - A look at the Yahoo! Sports box scores shows the Suns shooting just 45% against OKC's 64%. That can't be good.

4:13 - Nice ball movement by PHX. Frye hits open corner three. More of this plz. Kthx.

3:50 - Collison putback. Suns getting killed on offensive boards.

3:33 - Amare gets it right back against Collison with a strong move. 24-19 OKC.

2:23 - Westbrook breaks Nash's ankles. Pogi layup all the way.

1:51 - Lou Amundson cuts to the hoop. Plus one!

1:22 - Amare forces a jumpball and wins it. Suns still down 6.

1:04 - STAT with nice assist to Lou in the paint!

48.5 - Nash to Amare, plus the foul! Amare hits the free throw and the Suns are back within three.

End of 1Q - 36-31 OKC

2nd Quarter

11:47 - Nice poll question by Suns game coverage: "Which young team scares you most over next 5 years? OKC, Memphis, Sacto, or Portland?" I'll say Portland, and then OKC if they manage to maintain their core.

10:46 - Yikes. Quick start for Thunder in the second. Suns down 12 and call timeout.

10:46 - Didn't OKC play last night? Against the Lakers, at that. Why aren't they tired? :p

10:03 - Grant Hill gets 3rd foul. There goes his fantasy stats for the day.

9:26 - Goran Dragic coast to coast!

9:05 - OKC still killing PHX with offensive rebounds. Suns down 34-47.

8:37 - Ooh, strong drive by Frye. Too bad he missed the dunk for the and-one.

8:37 - Frye just one of two from the line. Come on.

8:22 - Another two for Ibaka inside. Nice assist by Westbrook.

7:28 - Tough call against Jared Dudley. OKC sent to the line for two again, with PHX already down 12.

7:14 - Finally an offensive board for the Suns. Keep the activity going, STAT!

7:05 - Sweet bounce pass to Channing inside. Hard foul by OKC though. Frye hits two. OKC 51, PHX 39.

6:42 - Ugh. Harden gets plus one against Amare. Couldabeen good defense, but only for 22 seconds. :|

5:56 - Nice no-look find by Nash to Frye for another three. Suns within 10 again.

5:20 - Ibaka from Westbrook again! Ibaka is 4 of 4 so far. Somebody stop that guy!

4:30 - Nash to Frye for another perimeter shot. Let's not fall in love with the jumpers though.

3:31 - Nash doing it all. Drive to the hoop, draw the charge, fade-away jumper.

3:08 - Almost another awesome Nash play. Amare fouled on the alley-oop. Suns now within 6, 52-58.

2:51 - STAT almost gets Jeff Green jumper back with strong drive and dunk. Travel was called though. Dayum.

2:30 - Jeff Green with a three! OKC up, 63-52.

2:11 - Amare with a dunk down low and the foul! Free throw hit. Green's three taken right back.

1:26 - Nash hits big three. Suns down just 6 now, 58-64.

39.1 - Nash to STAT! Monster dunk! Amare has 20 already!

13.4 - Another Amare drive, plus a foul! Suns down just 1!

13.4 - 64-64 courtesy of Amare bonus free throw.

03.8 - Kevin Durant is clutch. (It's just the second quarter, I know. But still...)

00.3 - Goran Dragic coast to coast again for what should have been a buzzer beating layup. But refs call traveling! WTF!

End of 2Q - OKC 66, PHX 64. Amare already with 22 pts, 7 boards for PHX. Durant with 16, 3, and 2 for OKC.

3rd Quarter

11:41 - Durent opens the up the third with another three. Sigh. :p

10:23 - Wow. Durant with another three. From about 30 feet. To beat the buzzer. Just wow. 74-66 OKC.

9:26 - Nice inside D, but Suns still getting beat on the board. Tsk.

9:00 - Nash really doing it all. Hits three to make it 71-75 Suns.

8:41 - Too ambitious, Mr. Westbrook. You won't dunk on Amare from that far.

8:09 - Nash again! Fadeaway brings OKC lead down to just two again. Suns need Nash to be a passer more than a scorer though. The rest of the team needs to hit more.

6:33 - Athletic move to the hoop by Westbrook. The kid is good. 79-75 OKC.

5:35 - Nash's 10th assist: Corner three by Frye. 78-80 for the Suns.

5:12 - STAT ties it up with a couple of free throws. He now has 27 and 10.

4:33 - Oooh, nice Westbrook dish to wide open Krstic for the dunk. OKC up two again.

4:10 - Westbrook scores. Kid's doing it all. He's got 13, 5, and 7.

3:12 - Dragic with a nice steal and save following his miss from the corner three.

2:59 - Two points for the Nash and the Suns as a result and the score is tied again. Nash himself has 23 points to go along with 10 dimes.

2:35 - Timeout called. Silip sa ibang box scores... Damn you, Trevor Ariza. 1 for 10 shooting? Come on! Kevin Love pogi!

1:27 - Amare is abusing Nick Collison. 3-point play makes it 87-85 for the Suns.

1:15 - James Harden called for the charge. Ball goes back to PHX. Time to build a lead.

54.6 - Fastbreak Durant layup ties it at 87, following Amare turnover. Sayang.

39.6 - Amundson recovers Nash deep pass and converts under the basket. Suns up 2.

End of 3Q - Game tied at 89 after James Harden dunk following Ibaka block on Amare (argh).

4th Quarter

11:47 - Lou Amundson bothered on pick and roll drive. Nice effort though.

11:24 - Amundson recovers on defense with good block on Durant.

11:00 - Frye fishes for foul from beyond arc. Hits all three. Nice. Suns up, 92-91.

10:28 - Charge called against Grant Hill. Not his night.

10:10 - Harden charge gives ball right back to PHX.

9:49 - Score still at 92-91!

9:17 - Me and my big mouth. Harden hits 3, OKC up, 94-92.

8:42 - Dragic hits. Game tied at 94. Teams just trading baskets now.

8:42 - Game coverage reveals results from earlier poll. OKC and Portland are top two, according to fans.

8:08 - Lou really needs to work on free throws, misses two gimmes.

7:23 - Grant hits his first field goal of the game, ties score at 96.

7:01 - Sweet floater from Durant. I'm surprised to see he already has 29 points; he's done his damage quietly.

6:32 - Dudley energy not enough to match Durant athleticism. Foul called on the drive. Durant hits 2 to make it 100-97 OKC.

6:02 - Amare fouled by Durant. Couldabeen another sweet Nash assist. Amare's just 1 of 2, jinxed by commentators. :p Dammit.

5:29 - Frye hits three following another Ibaka layup (come on!). 102-101 OKC.

5:15 - Ugh. Amare loses ball out of bounds after two Durant misses from the free throw line.

5:13 - Durant misses jumper. Good break for PHX.

4:12 - J-Rich hits three! He's scored last 5 points for the Suns. 106-104 PHX.

3:39 - Ibaka tip-in again! Tied game! The rook's got 12 and 7. Terrible job by Suns frontcourt.

3:23 - Amare fouled again with the shot, puts Suns up 3. Amare has 34.

3:10 - Grant Hill fouls out. My fantasy team takes a big hit. :p

2:56 - Thunder force jumpball vs STAT again. Score stands at 109-108 PHX.

2:46 - After winning the tip, Amare gets another offensive rebound off Nash 3-point miss. Good job!

2:31 - STAT finally fishes for Ibaka's 6th foul. Back to the line... Just 1 of 2, but Frye grabs offensive board!

2:00 - PHX up just 2, 110-108. OKC ball.

1:47 - Durant and-1 play! Lead goes back to Thunder!

1:06 - Jeff Green clutch tip-in! Again, offensive boards for the Thundah! OKC leads, 113-110.

55.9 - Nash misses free throw! Unbelievable. 1 of 2 for him on this trip. OKC lead down to two.

36.9 - OKC grabs another offensive board. Suns boxout fail.

14.4 - Durant clutch jumper. OKC up 115-111. Durant has 38

10.6 - Frye misses wide open three. OKC with the rebound and Westbrook hits two FTs. Looks like Suns will drop second game at home.

FINAL. 117-113 OKC.

* * *

Tough loss for the Suns right here. December really hasn't been good to PHX. This should have been a very winnable game for 'em, especially since it's at home. Tsk, tsk.

As I've mentioned, I'd rather have Nash scoring 8 points but dishing out 16 assists than having him get a 24-12 like tonight. It's just terrible that, other than Amare's excellent 35-14 game, the rest of the team struggled from the field.

Gotta give credit to the young Thunder, though. The kids put together excellent individual performances: Durant (38-6-3), Green (17-9), Westbrook (19-8-7!), and the killer, Ibaka (12-7). Plus, their 16-8 offensive rebounding advantage really gave them control of the game early, not to mention, actually pulled them through at crunchtime.

On another note, Grant Hill and Thabo Sefolosha are going to kill my East Rombo fantasy team this week by this game alone. :p Oh well.

Box Score here.

Recap here.

(Images courtesy of Getty Images and the Associated Press, via Yahoo! Sports)

This is Why Nerds Rule the World

2009-12-21T21:19:00.004+08:00

click here to read more. srsly.

warning: some chuck norris shit ensues.

(thanks, eums! theums!)

Clash of the Titans: Greek Goddamn!

2009-12-21T14:40:00.005+08:00

one of my GOAT (greatest of all time) movies is apparently being remade and slated for release next year!

nerdgasmic!

TRAILER HERE!

(thanks, ZodiacTrailers)

HWM December 2009: Sailing The (Windows) 7 Seas

2009-12-16T15:43:00.003+08:00

as HWM grows another year older, we're kicking things up the awesomeness a notch higher. in our first issue to kick off another year, we've got all things new and exciting lined up for you. from the next big leap in data storage, to the newest pc foundations, to the highly anticipated latest version of the windows operating system many of us have known and loved, this anniversary issue will keep your technolust well-fed.

have a look at what you'll find inside:

HWM's Ultimate Guide To Windows 7. An in-depth Feature covering everything you want and need to know about the latest Windows operating system.
Lynnfield: The New Mainstream CPU. A Showcase that tackles Intel's newest chipset for the mainstream PC market, followed by a product showcase of the best new motherboards that support it.
Solid State Society. A Shootout featuring six of the latest and best solid state drives available.
The Basics Of Composition, Part V. The penultimate installment of our guide to photo composition.
A Touch Of The Yuletide Season. Get a chance to win an ASUS Eee PC T91 in our contest!

plus, you still get your fill of the regular stuff -- Inbox news, Gear product briefs and previews, and, of course, our much-loved Reviewed section!

(happy holiday) cheers!

HWM Presents: Gift Guide 2010!

2009-12-06T12:41:00.004+08:00

it's that time of year again, folks! the holidays are just around the corner, and you know what that means:

a brand new HWM Gift Guide is out!

woo! so if you're just like me who has yet to even start thinking about what to get your loved ones for the holidays, take it easy because Gift Guide 2010 is all about helping you pick the best gift ideas this side of the tech-crazed world.

featuring over 200 hot products, HWM's Gift Guide 2010 showcases the best gadgets and gear available today. we've got notebook and desktop PCs, PC components, mobile phones, TVs and monitors, portable media players, digital compact and SLR cameras, digital camcorders, and even high-tech home appliances! it's all awesome, trust us. ;)

check it out at your favorite bookstore and see for yourself!

cheers!

HWM November 2009: Because Your Eyes Know Better

2009-11-18T18:33:00.006+08:00

looking to build a kickass home theater to close out the year? check out HWM this november and discover your best options as far as visual centerpieces are concerned. our major stories cover the latest developments in tv technology and high definition projectors, along with a story which showcases advanced LCD monitors for imaging and graphics-oriented professional.

here's what you can expect to see in this issue:

LED There Be War. An LED TV Shootout.
The Bigger Picture. A HD Projector Showcase.
Specialist Screens. A Professional-grade LCD Monitor Showcase
A BlackBerry Bonanza. A Guide on Blackberry Apps For Messaging and Social Networking.
The Basics Of Composition, Part IV. Part 4 of our 6-part Guide on Photo Composition.
Encounters Of The Fourth Kind. This month's Contest, where you could win a cool pair of headphones from Audio Technica!

other than these, you can also learn more about the coolest new products from your favorite tech brands in our Inbox, Gear, and Reviewed sections.

enjoy!

HWM October 2009: Capturing The Finer Details Of Life

2009-10-12T11:36:00.003+08:00

it's october and HWM's back again to keep you posted on the latest news, previews, and reviews this side of this gadget-crazy planet. this month's issue covers paradigm-shifting developments that suit the purposes of this user-generated content-driven generation. here's what you'll find inside:

Hand-held Hi-Def. these days, everyone wants to make movies, thanks to the popularity of sites such as youtube and its ilk. so why not equip yourself with a camcorder that lets you get into the hobby and do so with exceptional results? in this Shootout, we check out some of the top HD camcorder options out there and show which ones are best worth your money.
Thank Goodness For... Small Mercies. in this Feature article, we unravel the mysteries behind the new micro four-thirds system, the latest buzzword among digital photography buffs. how does this format work and what does it have to offer to the modern shutterbug? you'll see that and more in this story.
Wet N' Wild. this Showcase is aimed for users who want to shoot photos regardless of the conditions where they're in. may it be for snorkeling, rock-climbing, or camping out in the wild, the digital cameras we're featuring here are your best picks whenever you feel like roughing it up -- and still want souvenirs to bring back home.
One World, One Connection. HWM flies to kuala lumpur, malaysia, to find out what's new from the Nokia camp. our Spotlight shines on the finnish companies next big steps towards developing the mobile community by promoting the growth of and innovation within the mobile ecosystem worldwide.
A BlackBerry Bonanza: Finding Your Way. turn your BlackBerry handset into your personal tour guide with a little help from its GPS and mobile mapping abilities. read this Guide to find out how.
The Basics Of Composition, Part III. newbies to photography, pay close attention. in our latest installment of our photo composition basics Guide, we'll tackle leading lines and the laws that govern them.
A Shift In The Winds. no, this has nothing to do with that burrito you had for lunch. this is our Contest for the month, and we're giving you three options to play for cool (figuratively and literally) gear from... well, CoolerMaster!

there's a lot more inside, other than what i've mentioned above, so you know you're in for a fun ride when you open up our latest edition.

cheers! ;)

HWM September 2009: Time To Get Touchy

2009-09-23T18:22:00.003+08:00

pardon the late post, folks!

HWM's back this month (i'm sure you've been seeing this in all good bookstores and magazine stands for quite a while already) and we're bringing you titans! titans, i tell you! if you haven't noticed yet, touchscreen handsets have been making waves in the mobile market ever since a certain fruit-inspired brand came out with its supposed 'jesus phone'. so this month, we take the best of 'em and give them the good ol' Shootout treatment. read on for more details!

Dancing The Touchscreen Titan Tango. smartphones have supposedly gotten smarter by way of being more intuitive to use, thanks to the evolution of touchscreen technology. in this Shootout, you can find out which among the current bunch of touchscreen smartphones can deliver the best in terms of performance and/or value.
Touchscreen Tech: What You Need To Know. while we're on the subject, we might as well delve deeper into the technology behind touchscreen interfaces. find out what makes them work, what variations there are, and why they're simply so damn popular among today's consumers and manufacturers alike.
Coming Together. feeling thankful that you're mobile phone can now do what you otherwise would need your camera, mp3 player, and laptop for? in this Feature, we tackle mobile convergence and the way it has changed the modern consumer's perspectives and lifestyles.
No Fears, No Tears. in the first of our two Spotlight interviews for this issue, a Sony exec shed light on the latest line of affordable and extremely user-friendly Alpha DSLR cameras and the direction where this product line is heading.
A New Generation Of Cameras. also under the HWM Spotlight, we talk with key people from the Olympus camp as we learn more about the much-hyped EP-1 PEN camera, as well as the Micro Four Thirds movement as a whole.
A BlackBerry Bonanza. as the BlackBerry brand steadily gains momentum on local shores, we give you a good headstart with the first of three special Guides, tackling quick tips and tricks on how you can maximize your device.
The Basics Of Composition Part II. as we continue serving up quick and easy tips on how to take that perfect photo, we cover the element of perspective.
Swift Data Hunter. contest! is your pc starting to fill up with a mish-mash of programs, documents, movies, ~~porn,~~ music, photos, ~~porn,~~ and whatever it might be that tickles your fancy ~~(e.g. porn)~~? well guess what? we have a badass hard drive waiting for you to win it. good luck!

hey, now. don't forget about the rest of the regular sections! we still have Inbox, Gear, and Reviewed thrown right in the mix to complete your monthly HWM fix!

cheers! ;)

HWM August 2009: Redefining The Class With Full Frame DSLR Cameras

2009-08-10T11:00:00.000+08:00

HWM is giving everyone the VIP treatment this august as we bring you the lowdown on full frame digital slr cameras, headlining a pack of other cool photography-related stories. so if you're among the many today who share in the shutterbug spirit, our august ish is the mag for you.

here's more of what's inside:

The Full Frontal. is it getting hot in here or is it just the Nikon D3x, Canon EOS 5D Mark II, and Sony α900 all in the same feature? our sexy cover story bares everything you need to know about the best pro-grade digital cameras available today.
High Profile Lineup. of course, what use is a good camera if you're not planning to print out your shots? backing up our main story for the month is a Showcase of exceptional mid-range all-in-one printers from leading printer brands, HP, Canon, and Epson.
The Basics Of Composition. with the right equipment already accounted for, what's left to ensure is that you get that picture-perfect moment captured the best way possible. in this first installment of our 6-part Guide, we'll show you just how to do so.
App Store Treasures: Photography Edition. so what if the iPhone only has a 2-megapixel camera built-in? there are tons of apps out there that can make your iPhone photography stint still worth the while and this story showcases some the best of them.
Precision Editing Made Easy. if you're more into videos than photos, then check out our software Guide featuring Apple's latest iMovie '09 video editing software. find out about its newest features, developments, and improvements from its previous version.
Making The Right Impressions. HWM sits down with HP Philippines' Ms. Jenny Sotto-Siquioco and talks about HP's Imaging and Printing Group.
Mac Daddy. in another Spotlight feature, HWM celebrates Power Mac Center's 15th birthday this month with an exclusive interview with their CEO, Mr. Lawrence Sison.
Defenders Of The Galaxy. and of course, our contest! up for grabs this month: a Galaxy GeForce GTX 260+ graphics card! you know you want it...

whew! that was a lot. but i haven't even given you an idea of what other cool stuff you'll find when you check out our Inbox, Gear, and Reviewed sections. no, really. there's more. all for your techie cravings, month in and month out.

enjoy! ;)

HWM Presents: Redefining Productivity: Staying Competitive In Trying Times

2009-07-31T10:54:00.000+08:00

times are tough, but we know you're tougher. HWM knows that you won't just sit idly by and watch the economy kill your business. allow us through our july supplement magazine to help you maximize today's best available technologies for the best interests of your company.

Redefining Productivity: Staying Competitive In Trying Times covers these main subjects of interest:

Getting Connected. What's new and what's essential in office networking.
Staying Secure. Protecting digital assets and your business from the latest cyber threats.
Looking Good. How to make the best impression with the right tools for work.
Managing Data. The best solutions to keep data safe and secure at all times.

there are also various product showcases within each section highlighting dependable and cost-effective solutions on the latest and most relevant office equipment out there.

check us out! this supplement is now available in all major bookstores.

HWM July 2009: Computerrific!

2009-07-06T18:26:00.003+08:00

this month, HWM pays homage to the machine that we have come to know and love as the computer. after all, it's really come quite a long way, going through a rich evolution from the humble abacus, to gigantic room-sized machines, to the sleek and style-friendly devices that you can now find in stores -- or even build on your own. pick up the july issue and get the lowdown on the latest developments as far as the computing machine is concerned.

Living With Computers. planning to deck your home with a one-stop shop for your computing needs? our cover story is a Shootout designed to decide which all-in-one PC makes the best fit for the digital lifestyle as set within the home.
Computex Taipei 2009: Progressive Design And Innovation. taiwan's big, bad tech trade show defies the economic recession by staging yet another grand event last june. our coverage showcases some of the coolest new products and technologies that debuted there.
How To Secure And Protect Your Computer Like A Ninja. yup, you read that right. we're showing you how to keep your computer safe and well-guarded from any and all sorts of cyber-threats, ninja-style. 'nuff said.
Getting Personal. HWM sits down with HP Personal Systems Group's Ms. Bernadette Nacario for this exclusive interview.
App Store Treasures: Utility Applications. our Apple App Store special series takes a turn for the utilitarian in this installation. learn more about how to make your iPhone or iPod touch much more than the device it was designed to be.
Squeezing More Juice Out Of The (Black) Berry. with the BlackBerry brand steadily gaining fame on local shores, we're showing you some top tips to help you maximize the device, from shortcuts, to apps, and more.
A Work Of Art. imagine having internet access, wherever you want it, whenever you want it. join this contest and win yourself one of the 6 Globe Tattoo Prepaid Broadband Kits that we're giving away, so you can stop imagining.

see that? that's what we call LOADED. i haven't even mentioned the good ol' product reviews, features, and news that-- oh. i just did. silly me.

cheers!

HWM June 2009: Going Academic!

2009-06-11T18:00:00.004+08:00

HWM believes that the children are our future, that we should teach them well and let them lead the way, and that we should show them all the beauty they possess inside... so this month, HWM is giving them a sense of pride by giving them really cool options for great value-for-money notebooks and printers that are perfect for the back-to-school season. yes, to make things easier... after all, with these, we're bound to hear these children's laughter which, as we all know, remind us how we used to be. ;)

that aside, here's more of what's inside this month's issue!

Note Worthy! gear up for the new schoolyear with these choices for the perfect study buddy. we have right here five cool, budget-friendly notebook PCs ripe for the choosing!
Making Paper Trails. with the school months rolling in, expect a ton of paperwork to roll right by as well. these all-in-one printers offer more than printing -- you get copy and scan functions, too -- but don't take too much away from your allowance.
Windows Wide Open. fancy a preview of Microsoft's successor to the much-talked about Vista OS? we've got four pages of everything you need to know about it right here.
App Store Treasures: Music Apps. what's an iPhone or an iPod touch without music? check out these fancy apps for your musical enjoyment.
Sink Your Tooth Into This! three bluetooth headsets from Philips! that's right: three! and you have a chance to win one of 'em this month!

do we still really have to tell you that these are not all you'll get in this month's rag? ahhh, we'll say it anyway: news, previews, reviews on everything cool that technology has to offer. where else? in HWM of course! ;)

cheers!

p.s. don't forget: HWM Philippines is now on facebook! be a fan! you know you want to. ;)

HWM May 2009: PMPin' Up The Jams

2009-05-26T11:47:00.006+08:00

got an ear for some outdoor multimedia fun? then this month's issue of HWM might just be your read of the month. our cover story features hot portable media players, pitting all eight of them another exciting Shootout. want more? then get more. read on, you awesome blog reader, you.

The Perfect Player (aside: no, this story does not, in any way, pertain to me. :p). five portable music players and three portable audio and video players enter the HWM Shootout stage. find out which one is most worthy of spending sweet time in your pockets.
The Modern Media Center Shootout. oh, poor movie theater... what use have you when we could now just sit in our cozy sofas and still enjoy the latest in entertainment? this Shootout showcases the best media center devices for your living room entertainment fix.
A New Frame Of Mind. fresh off that eventful summer vacation, you don't just want to leave your summer shots lying around in a memory card, do you? this Feature reveals everything about the rising new technology behind digital photo frames.
App Store Treasures: Productivity Applications. gloating about your recent purchase of a handsome, new iPhone or iPod touch? we're giving you reason to gloat even more. check the first in our series of Guides about the best apps you could get from the Apple Apps Store.
Blending Design, Technology, And Efficiency. Panasonic has just unveiled their latest plasma and lcd tv offerings. read about how the company is changing the face of flat panel tvs in our Spotlight.
Big Bang For The Buck! try your luck at our quick pop quiz and you might just score yourself a brand new GE A730 digital camera!

whew. hot stuff right there. but there's actually more! check out reviews of a couple of cool Panasonic LUMIX cameras, the Sony Walkman's hot, new design, and more! plus, news, product previews, and more chances to win stuff! yippee!

cheers! ;)

HWM Presents: Smart PC Shopping!

2009-05-26T11:38:00.003+08:00

everyone's so concerned about the so-called global economic crisis these days, but don't let all that talk deny you the joys of arming yourself with your ideal PC. pick up HWM's summer supplement mag and get the smartest tips for building the computer that's just right for your needs.

this one's got it all covered: whether you're a first-time computer user looking for a basic system, a productivity-oriented student or employee, a multimedia buff, a hard-core gamer, or a content creator with high demands, this quick and easy guide recommends the best basline configurations and upgrade paths that satisfy your computing needs while still keeping you well within your spending threshold.

check it out and enjoy your PC shopping!

oops. i did it again. :|

2009-05-02T10:01:00.004+08:00

so nice, it just had to happen twice... FML.

HWM April 2009: Here's To A Picture Perfect Summer

2009-04-07T18:24:00.005+08:00

aching to get out and bask under the summer sun? so are we! unfortunately, we're still stuck here in the office doing what we do best (read: bringing on the awesome -- for you tech addict, no less), so instead we're giving you the next best thing: telling you how best to enjoy your summer escapades. in this month's HWM, two of our big stories talk about great options for your photo-ops this season. care to know more? then read on.

Summer Break Shooter Shootout! fresh off our prosumer camera Shootout last month, we're giving you a look at 6 more digital cameras, this time from the budget set. which compact camera deserves to land in your travel bag this season? find out in this story.
Summer Escapes. we've seen how mobile phones' integrated cameras have evolved through the years. from hosting no more than a humble VGA resolution, the handsets we are looking at nowadays house 8-megapixel sensors. 8 megapixels, people! check out which models are available now, and which one among them gets our approving nod.
The Xacti 6. whoa. looks like we're not done with digital imaging goodies just yet. in our Spotlight, we take a look at Sanyo's freshest offerings from their Xacti digital camcorder/camera lineup. looking for HD recording to document your adventures? you've got 6 hot, new options right here.
Tech On A Shoestring. alas, tough times are still upon us! but does that mean we have to compromise our gadget craze? not quite! in this Feature story, we're giving you top tips on how to make smart decisions as you continue to feed your technolust.
Making Editing Easier For Pros. introducing the new Adobe Premier Pro CS4! our Guide this month shows you the highlights of the new version of the popular, pro-friendly video-editing software.
Phase The Music! take a nostalgia trip down musical memory lane and get a chance to score an ASUS M478T motherboard!

plus, we also have reviews of drool-worthy new gear like the Nikon D3X, HP Mini 2140, and HTC Touch HD, along with our usual serving of hot tech news, product briefs, and more! we know... we just can't stop being so cool.

enjoy! ;)

the best 'single ladies' video evarrr

2009-03-18T12:36:00.006+08:00

i've seen a couple of other takes on beyonce's single ladies video (the one from saturday night live featuring justin timberlake and another with a barack obama impersonator; google it up, lazy link leeches!), but this one has to take the cake.

via CookingEggss on YouTube.

thanks to mace for the enlightenment.

HWM March 2009: Had Enough Of Netbooks Yet?

2009-03-11T07:31:00.004+08:00

we're back with another fresh serving of coolness (as if you could expect anything less from us). and speaking of second servings, our cover story is all about the second wave of one of the hottest products in the computing scene today: netbooks! we know you want it, so let's cut to the chase! here's what you'll find inside HWM's oven-fresh march issue:

Ushering In The Second Wave. this scene isn't just all about ASUS anymore. new players such as Dell, Fujitsu, Lenovo, and Toshiba have also joined the party, so now there's a whole lot more to choose from, as far as those teeny tiny mini-notebooks are concerned. so how do you know which one you should choose? easy. read HWM!
Canon PowerShot G10 vs Panasonic Lumix LX-3. if you're a casual digital photography buff, and you're looking to upgrade from your basic or mid-range point-in-shoot camera, you know what's the logical next step, right? an entry-level dslr, right? these two prosumer cameras beg to differ. canon and panasonic go head-to-head in this Shootout.
The Big Top Of Tech Hits Las Vegas. we're right back at that time of year when gear- and circuit-heads from across the globe mix it up in vegas to check out the latest products and announcements the techie world has to offer. here's our full coverage of CES 2009!
Macworld 2009. no steve jobs? no problem... right? could it be the last time we'll see Apple gracing the very event dedicated to their flagship PC brand? we'll never know until next year, so for now, just check out their latest announcements for the Mac community.
Connecting People Anew. in this Spotlight, HWM talks with Mr. William Hamilton-Whyte, Nokia Philippines general manager, to find out more about the company's direction moving beyond mobile phone manufacturing and into mobile services. exciting? definitely.
Smoke Effects. the Adobe CS4 family has just recently been launched, so brush up on your mad 'Shopping skillz with this quick Guide.
Be One With The Force! contest time! get a chance to win a brand new HD3870 graphics card from Force3D! nuff said! ;)

as always, there's still a bunch more! we still have our regular reviews, news, and product previews to go along with these awesome main stories, so you know you're getting more than your money's worth when you pick us up.
cheers! ;)

winner by association

2009-02-28T22:11:00.003+08:00

hello, blog. sorry i've neglected you for nearly a month again. now i'm back, but i'm afraid i'm in not too positive a mood.

today, i was 20 minutes late for a 40-minute ballgame, no small thanks to some ridiculously heavy traffic along my favoritest roadest everest, SLEX. FML.

i left a good two hours before game time, but traffic was moving so slowly, it took me an hour and a half just to get from the southwoods exit to the alabang viaduct. normally, that would just have been a straightforward, 15-minute drive. un-fucking-acceptable.

but i digress.

anyway, this ballgame in question had been on my mind since the end of our last game last saturday, knowing very well that this one was, by far, the most winnable game in our seven-game schedule. and after a winless first five games (again, digression: after our first game, i haven't really posted updates about our ABL campaign like i had originally planned. maybe after our final game next week, i'll post a quick summary. maybe. if i feel like it), it was only natural for us to be excited.

long story short, team manalastas finally earned its first ABL victory earlier this evening. unfortunately for me though, i was hardly part of it. sure, i got a few minutes of playing time. but, with hardly any time to warm up and cool my angry head down, i sucked. fuck SLEX.

of course, this post is not to discredit the efforts of my teammates. naturally, i'm happy that we're no longer winless cellar-dwellers. i just wish i could have made a more meaningful contribution to the cause.

HWM February 2009: Taking It Straight To The Core

2009-02-06T16:08:00.006+08:00

this month, HWM would like you to meet the newest face of modern computing -- or rather its heart... or maybe its brains... whichever way you'd want to call it, the Intel Core i7 has arrived and it's all set to make the world a better place, one pc at a time.

of course, the token "but wait, there's more":

Tech Trends 2009. if last month, we brought you the top gear of the previous year, this month we're looking at the opposite direction as we give you our fearless forecasts for the year that has just begun. read this so you'd have something to throw at us when we're proven wrong at the end of the year! :p
The Freeware Top 30! they say the best things in life are free... quite true, to an extent. thankfully, this fact somehow trickles down into the wonderful world of computing. we list down our favorite freely downloadable programs and apps, covering the modern user's every need.
50 Years Of Exhilaration Of Sight. Canon celebrates the big five-oh of their much-loved and trusted EOS DSLR product line. pop open that bottle of champagne and join us in looking back at Canon's milestones through the decades.
Smart Traveling. thanks to power-packed mobile technology, modern travelers no longer need to carry around too much stuff; it's all in their pockets these days. heading off to a far away destination yourself? check this Feature out and know which applications are the top picks to load up on your smartphone.
On Full Horsepower. HWM sits down with the bosses of one of the most recognizable names in the IT industry today, Hewlett-Packard. in this Spotlight, we learn more about HP's successes in 2008, and its outlook heading into 2009.
Warp Yourself To The Future! this month's Contest can be likened to stepping into a time machine and boosting yourself forward along the timestream... well, kind of. our big prize for the month: next-generation storage technology in the form of Patriot Extreme Performance Solid State Drive!

excited, aren't ya? well, you should be, because aside from all that, we still have news, product previews, full reviews, and ~~ads!~~ more about everything cool that the tech universe has to offer!

enjoy! ;)

is that a pc in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?

2009-01-30T18:37:00.006+08:00

sony philippines introduced a hot, new super-small computer last wednesday, and thankfully, i was the one assigned to cover the event.

it's called the sony vaio p. and in case you were wondering: no, it's not a netbook -- at least, that's what sony would like us to think.

more photos and commentary by yours truly when you click here. teehee.

p.s. i get to ~~play with~~ review it! yay! but just for a week though... sigh. in any case, look for the full review in the pages of HWM's March 2009 issue! ;)

p.p.s. sana hindi magtampo si jean-claude jacquettie... :p

the blowout predicament

2009-01-24T14:25:00.000+08:00

(Jeff Gentner/AP via nbcsports.msnbc.com)

in light of all the big blowout losses i've come to be rather too familiar with in the past couple of weeks, i came across a really interesting insight today regarding basketball game routs and how the teams involved, especially the winning side, should behave/perform. the discourse comes in reaction to news that some high school team is now apologizing and requesting for a forfeit of a game which they won by an otherworldly final score of 100-0.

yup. one hundred to zero.

anyway, the dime magazine blogger says he doesn't understand why teams that are winning big have to change their game as a courtesy to their unfortunate opponents. he puts forward quite a valid point:

I’m all for a coach sitting his starters if a game gets out of hand, but strictly in the name of keeping them healthy. And when you put the backups in, don’t feel obligated to have them play conservative or sit on the ball. In most cases, especially on the high school level, your backups are the younger kids who will someday be starters. If you put them in, have them run the same stuff you were running before, because this is their best opportunity to translate what they’ve been doing in practice to a game situation. If you want to pull back, do it for YOUR sake, not for the other team’s sake. And if you’re on the bad end of a blowout, well, you shouldn’t expect anyone to pull back for you. If you don’t want to get beat 85-10, the onus is on you — not the opposing coach — to prevent it from happening.

nice perspective. you can read about the whole deal here.

so how about you, reader? what's your take on this?

shame on you, phoenix suns!

2009-01-24T12:19:00.005+08:00

oh, boy. this is getting much, much worse than i can take.

SSOL* fans, rejoice. or not.

actually, i don't know. on one hand, we're seeing in these recent games just how much SSOL works for this phoenix suns team. on the other hand, the past is coming back to haunt them, and handing their asses to them on a silver platter in the process.

two days ago, former suns head coach mike d'antoni led his knicks over the suns. granted, it was the second meeting for these two teams, so the win wasn't as dramatic. but at the end of the day, it was still a game where a spunky bunch of role players playing in a system that works prevailed over a team made up of all-stars and possibly future hall of famers who can't figure out how to play together...

then, just earlier today, phoenix lost again. and they faced a 30(-plus) deficit for the second time in a span of three games. the first time? it was against the defending champion boston celtics. today? against the charlotte bobcats. the boris diaw and raja bell-reinforced charlotte bobcats.

ohhhh, boy...

pwned! ouch.
(photo: AP via yahoo! sports)

is it time to fire terry porter? the suns' still above-.500 record doesn't suggest so. the team's current direction, however... hmmmmm...

*SSOL = seven seconds or less, for those not yet familiar with the name given to the d'antoni-era suns system

amare off the bench?

2009-01-23T16:10:00.005+08:00

not happening. at least, not yet.

it's been quite a rough stretch of games for the suns lately and a particularly discouraging week this week -- especially that forgettable 30-point humiliation against the defending champs. just as the phoenix phaithful were starting to be convinced that the team was finally starting to come into championship contention form, everything seems to be falling apart. again.

amid all that, amare's disappointing play has become the key subject of many a scrutinous scrutiny. he has been, after all, looking quite unfocused and unmotivated, as shaquille o'neal continues to mold this team as his own (a trend which i have come to accept and approve, by the way). his inconsistent numbers, but even more so his far-too-frequent foul issues, can attest to that.

all this has prompted many in the suns blogosphere to already begin pondering whether it's time to part ways with the franchise player. me? perhaps. but looking towards future seasons, amare still looks like too big a piece for phoenix to let go.

with that in mind, i came across this pretty solid suggestion earlier today, something way better than any bail-out trade. and i'll have to agree. it's not a bad idea at all. i especially like their suggestion on who should replace STAT in the starting five.

Will Stoudemire like it? Not a chance, but it could give him some rage, a little bit of that aggressive attitude on court the Suns need. We need an angry Amaré, not a frustrated player trying to affirm his leadership on a team with Shaq and Nash.

i say the suns should go for it. given their recent flirtations with a .500 record, i don't think they'd have too much to lose.

* * *

on another, almost ironic note, it looks like amare just got voted into the starting lineup for this year's all-star game, which happens to be hosted in phoenix. see for yourself. teehee.

(speaking of nba all-star 2009, dwight howard has just set a new record for the most nba all-star votes. good job, d-ho. i'm rooting for your team now, too. :p)

photo credit: www.daylife.com

back in the ballgame

2009-01-14T12:08:00.007+08:00

33-60.

that was the final score of my first game playing in the abl (ateneo basketball league) just last sunday. it was utter pwnage. but hey, at least i'm back playing official, organized basketball, right? here are some (unnecessary) post-game thoughts:

sure, it was a bad loss, but i'm not taking it too hard. it was our team's first time to play as a group, after all. who knows? maybe we could get better once we actually practice. :p
waitaminit. didn't i also feel the same way after our first game loss back when i played in the iac in my senior year? oh, wait. we won that first game... it was the games after it that feel kinda familiar. :p
also, i'm probably not too upset because, at the very least, i finally have a new set of basketball clothes. with "ATENEO" emblazoned across the chest. and my favorite number. and it's reversible... man, i feel like a champ already.
excuses, excuses. the clubsixfifty (spell it 5 times without pausing! it's fun!) playing court was rather slippery. ang hirap tumakbo -- and change directions, especially! as if my stamina wasn't bad enough already...
speaking of stamina, i need to work my ass off. srsly.
next game is on jan 25. lots of time to prepare. hopefully. (and to mace, sumama ka naman. inggit ako sa ibang mga lovers sa team e. :p)
oh, looky. official boxscore. ;D
i liked my first shot attempt. it was from beyond the arc. good line, i thought, but just a bit short. i dunno if i should keep taking shots like that. hahaha.
woo! basketball! yay!

HWM January 2009: Featuring The Best of 2008!

2009-01-09T18:02:00.005+08:00

welcome to 2009, everyone! HWM is kicking off a brand new year yet again with our traditional Top Gear special Feature. this time, we're counting down the top 20 best gadgets to come out in 2008. ch-ch-check it out!

but of course, that's not all. also in this issue:

I.T.'s A Knockout! HWM's coverage of COMDDAP Expo Manila 2008, local tech's grandest stage.
The QWERTY Quintessence. Four QWERTY-equipped smartphones! One epic Shootout!
What Gravity? Toshiba's latest notebook releases defy a physical law, and our Spotlight shows you how.
ASUS In Shanghai. HWM checks out the Pegatron plant at the heart of Shanghai to keep in track with the Taiwanese company's latest developments.
Flex Your Typing Muscles. There's a lot of QWERTY in this month's HWM, even if your handset doesn't have it! This Guide shows you where to find the best QWERTY keypad apps for your touchscreen phone.
Strike Out! We're giving away a Red Fox WizBook LX800 in this month's Contest, and all that's standing in your way are five easy questions!

don't forget about our steady servings of the latest news (Intel's latest chip is out!!!), commentary, reviews, and all-around techie goodness. we still have all that, too!

family reunions = a whole lotta pictures

2008-12-31T17:39:00.004+08:00

jaseisms bids farewell to jolly old 2008 with a pair of fresh, new photo albums from a couple of family reunions that took place within the past few days. ch-ch-check 'em out!

gozun clan reunion
26 december 2008
arayat, pampanga

marges clan reunion
30 december 2008
gen. trias, cavite

recent pictures update

2008-12-27T11:34:00.008+08:00

happy holidays, everyone!

just want to keep everyone posted about some new multiply photo albums i've posted but haven't blogged about yet. enjoy!

mossimo intensity 10 fashion show
(14 nov 2008)
as the lovely che-ann kubota had told us during their autograph session for fhm 100, she, gail, joyce, and so many other hotties strutted the catwalk yet again for mossimo. and i, fanboy that i am, just couldn't allow myself to miss it.

congrats, bit and gots!
(15 nov 2008)
can't believe i haven't posted anything about this here, but this may be big... the first in a long line of... god, we're really getting old, aren't we? :p

sony expo 2008
(6 dec 2008)
this one's not actually on my multiply; it's on In The Zone, hardwarezone.com.ph's editors' blog. text by yours truly and photos by yours truly and alfred.

comddap manila expo 2008
(6 dec 2008)
just beside sony's expo, the country's largest IT expo took the stage at the smx convention center. hardwarezone was there, of course, and so was i. at least for an afternoon. :p

the marky cielo christmas party
(7 dec 2008)
i joined my sister for a charity christmas party organized in marky cielo's name. sadly, this was the day when he truly unexpectedly passed away. rest in peace, kid.

fhm bullboard christmas party 2008
(20 dec 2008)
beer! free autographed fhm tarps! gail nicolas and cherry ann kubota (who i missed by less than an hour, so people say...)!

happy birthday, ma!
(23 dec 2008)
as a gift for my mom on her big day, i treated her along with dad, faye, paw, and alyse to quite a filling italianni's meal. sa uulitin!

post-game reactions: suns vs magic

2008-12-14T13:23:00.003+08:00

thanks to cs9, i was able to catch yesterday's suns-magic matchup (although slightly delayed) which, thankfully, went phoenix's way. here's a bunch of my random thoughts on the game:

so the suns got the W. yay. but not quite (at least, not quite yet). yesterday's game was another messy affair. in a nutshell: magic led early, suns got back, suns grabbed lead, magic caught up... so in the end, it was a closer game than it had to be. sigh. dwight howard wasn't even on the court for the most part of the second half (due to knee soreness); the late magic rally was fed by the energy of guys like courtney lee and marcin gortat. who? exactly. ugly, ugly finish. gotta fix that, boys.
and yes, d-ho played just half a game in this one. so obviously no epic STAT/d-ho collisions in this one... not that they match up officially anyway. till next game then...
nice pass, amare. great recognition on grant hill's off-the-inbound backdoor cut. thank goodness you didn't decide to go black jesus in the end after the rest of the team seemingly ignored you in the previous offensive sets.
j-rich debuted for planet orange! the newest addition to the arizona confusion hopped off the bench and started rather slowly with 0 for 4 shooting or something like that. but he did pick it up when it mattered, making big plays down the stretch and finishing with 21 points. he even had a couple of big air alley-oop dunks off feeds from leandro barbosa and a nice block-from-behind on a rashard lewis. very promising. that type of play should boost some energies and spirits across the roster. let's just hope his style of play still works even with a guy like shaq clogging up the paint...
oh, yeah. shaq was out, too. death in the family. condolences to the o'neals.
speaking of "shaq's out," our frontline's really thin. basketball gods, please get robin lopez into competitive nba shape soon.
terry porter seems to be letting the suns run again (thank you), which should be great since it's how steve nash wants things to go. if steve's happy, he'll flourish. if he does that, the suns will follow suit can keep winning. let's hope his, shaq's, and grant's knees can keep up.
ooh, next up for the suns are the knicks. d'antoni comes home. this should be interesting.
game recap below. game-winning play at around 1:42.

via PHX09SUNS

the phoenix suns are a picture of inconsistency and uncertainty

2008-12-13T09:34:00.005+08:00

i was posting my thoughts on the recent j-rich deal on the fhm bullboard this morning and it turned out to be quite lengthy, so i figured i'd post it here, too, just to show that i still care...

i'm excited about the opportunities that the j-rich deal will open up for the suns. upgrade si j-rich over bell, no doubt -- pero sa offensive dimension lang, at best (although the disgruntled bell of late wasn't really playing defense as well as he's been expected to). could this be a sign that kerr and/or porter are still confused about which direction (pro-defense/pro-offense) they want to take the suns? not good.

also on the downside, they had to give away their most reliable backup bigman (diaw) in the process. tapos overload pa ngayon sa wing position (unless this move means magiging trade bait na din si barbosa o si tucker.

anyway, suns-magic ngayon, ang aking ideal finals matchup. shaq might be out of the lineup today, so hopefully the suns can run (run = greater likelihood of getting a W), hopefully j-rich could already suit up, and hopefully we get to see a massive amare vs d-ho matchup (altho i doubt it; malamang robin lopez/d-ho matchup yan; but where's the fun in that? ).

it's amare vs d-ho today! yay!

(photo via the SI Vault)

HWM December 2008: Point-and-shoot Cameras, AiO Photo Printers, and our 4th Birthday!

2008-12-12T11:00:00.001+08:00

it's the merry month of december, and HWM and with this issue, we're turning four years old! so celebrate with us this season of merry-making! here's what's in store for you in this month's rag:

compact camera shootout! perfect picks for the perfect pics this photo-op season! six digital compacts battle it out for best value and best performance honors.
photo printer showcase! of course, if you have pictures, why not print 'em out, right?and these aren't just any regular printers, either -- the models featured are all-in-one machines, to boot.
the blu-ray life! as we wrap up our four-part special on blu-ray technology, let's see how the new standard for optical media is set to make an impact in our daily lives.
Dell and Canon under the spotlight! one is a renowned pc maker that's only recently entered the local consumer market and the other is an established name in digital imaging. HWM delves deeper on these companies' plans and strategies moving forward.
contest! up for grabs this december is a 19-inch widescreen lcd monitor from Hanns-G!

as always, the fun doesn't quite end just there. if you're craving for the hottest news, previews, and reviews of the latest gadgets and gear around, all you need to look for is the magazine bearing the cover you see above. ;)

cheers!

HWM presents: The Ultimate Guide To Holiday Entertainment!

2008-12-02T11:00:00.001+08:00

here come the holidays! and in true HWM fashion, we're giving you the power to decide this mother-of-all-shopping-seasons shopping season with another kickass gift guide!

that's right! as its title suggests, HWM's Ultimate Guide to Holiday Entertainment showcases everything you need to close out the year with a bang -- the best way you know how. whether you're a hardcore gamer (on either console or pc -- or both!) who prefers to kick it within the confines of home, a bar-hopping night owl who revels in the sparkly and shimmery world of late nights, or an adventurer with the goal of setting foot upon every inch of the globe, this gift guide has something to tickle your fickle fancy.

check out what's inside!

have a house party! gaming console systems * flat panel TVs * home theater systems * motherboard/cpu combos * lcd monitors * gaming notebooks * more flat panel TVs * high definition set-top players * entertainment notebooks * multimedia center PCs
love the nightlife! glamor phones * bluetooth headsets * car audio * camera phones * point-and-shoot cameras * camera and phone memory cards * music phones * netbooks * compact photo printers
see the sights! dslr cameras * camcorders * entertainment phones * portable media players * earphones * ultra-portable notebooks * UMPCs * ruggedized notebook PCs

awesome, huh? yeah, we think so too. so stop staring at your pc and go pick up a copy. then you can finally show everyone exactly how you roll.

holiday cheers, everyone! enjoy! ;)

guitar hero 3... but not quite

2008-11-30T16:43:00.004+08:00

witness modder pwnage at its most awesomest:

doesn't matter how dorky you may be in real life; have mad skillz, will pwn.

'tography 101: image stabilization

2008-11-25T13:15:00.002+08:00

hey, shutterbugs! how's your shooting goin' these days? remember last time, when i shared a gem of a tip on how flash can make a crappy picture instantly awesome? now who would've thought i'd ever come back with another one...

this time, let's talk about keeping your camera steady. this is important in order to avoid blurry photos, especially if you're shooting using a slow shutter speed. most compact digital cameras already come with built-in image stabilizers, but for (inexperienced) DSLR shooters like myself ~~who are too broke to get a lens with a vibration reduction/image stabilization mechanism~~, certain solutions are in order. take this one, for instance:

step 1: grab the closest chicken you can find.

step 2: mount your camera on the chicken's head.

step 3: shoot away!

here's a simple explanation on why this should work:

best of all, if you get hungry after all your snapping, you'll have fresh ulam handy!

via gizmodo.

bohol!

2008-11-13T18:30:00.002+08:00

pics from our bohol trip last october 30-november 1, 2008 have finally been uploaded! check em all out in the following links:

Bohol Day 1: From Airport to Beach
Bohol Day 2, Part 1: Of Chocolate Hills, Man-made Forests, and Buko Kings
Bohol Day 2, Part 2: Of Midget Monkeys, Giant Snakes, and Marimar
Bohol Day 2, Part 3: Halloween!
Bohol Day 3: Of Dolphins and Farewells

fhm hits 100!

2008-11-10T13:58:00.000+08:00

so it should come as no surprise that i'd be there at the signing, right? right. :p

click here for the rest of the pics. trust me, you won't be sorry. ;)

kudos, FHM! and great job picking the cover girls! ;)

HWM November 2008: Gaming Notebooks, Germany, PC-building Contests, and more!

2008-11-07T15:41:00.000+08:00

in october, HWM treated you to a grand showcase of the subnotebooks that have been taking over the mobile computing world. this month, brace yourself as we shift into high gear on the mobile PC front, this time with three monster gaming notebooks stepping into our Shootout arena in a battle of performance and value.

as always, that's not all. pick up our latest issue and get your fill of:

Iron Tech 2008. i've already given you a glimpse of the philippine leg of this one-of-a-kind competition. now, find out how our bets fared in the grand finals held in Singapore in this official coverage!
IFA 2008. Berlin, Germany played host yet again to the world's biggest consumer electronics trade fair. read about the latest news from the CE world's biggest names and learn more about what we can expect to see from here on.
HP Big Bang. Hewlett-Packard's annual major event also took stage recently in Hong Kong. curious about what they have in store for PC and printer users all over the world? we got it right here.
ASUS's Cool, New PCs. in this issue, we shine our Spotlight on the Taiwan-based brand's awesome Bamboo Series notebooks and give you practical tips to help you maximize your ASUS Essentio PC for gaming and multimedia.
News, Reviews, Contests, and the best tech updates your money can buy! we're pretty sure we haven't lost our touch. 'nuff said. ;)

where else can you find both the coolest and the hottest modern technology has to offer? that's right. so go check your nearest bookstore or magazine stand already.

enjoy! ;)

awesome amare explodes, t*ng***ng tony parker ruins moment

2008-11-06T19:06:00.003+08:00

what a night for nba basketball!

arriving in the office at around 10am, i was immediately greeted by a ym status message that read "amare halimaw!" or something to that effect (i believe that was yours, mic). my day, already being rather crappy already at that point, began to brighten up a bit. seeing the 43 points on 19-for-21 shooting statistic beside amare stoudemire's name upon checking the box scores for the phoenix-indiana game (which was at the time already heading into the fourth quarter) gave an instant boost to my early dampened spirits.

long story short, amare had a monster game today, leading the suns to a 113-103 win over the pacers on the second game of an east coast back-to-back schedule. the suns have now won fouor of five games to open the season.

amare's stat-line? 49 points, 17-21 from the field, 11 boards, 6 assists(!), 5 steals, and 2 blocks. whoever has amare on their fantasy rosters are lucky damned bastards (and i'm glad i'm not matched up against any of them this week).

amare rose above everybody else in this game. now if only the suns could play the pacers 40 more times this year...

actually, at the end of the game, the scoreboard indicated that amare had scored 51, supposedly a new career high. unfortunately, a score-keeping error had to shave off two points from the big guy's total. guh. either way, it was still a monster game -- a performance i'd certainly want to see more often out of this guy as the season progresses. mvp!

but, as the basketball gods would have it, this would not be amare's night to shine. apparently, several others had monster games of their own, led by tony parker's 55-point performance which led to san antonio's first win in four tries so far this year. god, i hate that guy. but i digress. other notable performers for the night were lebron james who scored 41 points to top his usual all-around game and dwyane wade, another monster stat-line filler.

sigh. you'll get yours, amare. you'll get yours.

photo credit: Getty Images via Yahoo! Sports

the 2008-09 nba season is underway!

2008-10-30T02:00:00.001+08:00

the nba: where slogans from the previous season reused for the new season by lousy bloggers who don't know any better happen.

if you've been following this blog (for whatever reason, i may never be sure), it may not surprise you to find out that i'll still be keeping an eye on the phoenix suns campaign this year -- with the departure of mike d'antoni and the resulting change in philosophy being the main story for the franchise. gone now are the days of the exciting, free-wheeling, scoreboard-scorching basketball, while in comes a more traditional, deliberate, defense-oriented system.

hmmm. so much for changing the league... oh, well. whatever works to get a ring, right? unfortunately, for the suns, doing so won't be as easy as it may have been in the recent past. with three key pieces -- steve nash, shaq, and grant hill -- pushing well beyond thirty, lasting through the gruelling 82-game season has become a more daunting task than ever.

of course, i'm not letting all the negative press against the suns get to me yet -- at least not while the team still has yet to play their first game. for one, amare stoudemire, ridiculous preseason injuries notwithstanding, will continue to compete, no doubt (and hopefully finally develop his defensive game under the new coaching system). i'm also quite excited about the new suns: matt barnes, robin lopez, and goran dragic. the latter two have quite a ways to go as they're only entering their first year in the big league, but i'm keeping my fingers crossed that some instant court savvy would rub off on them right away as they play behind the likes of steve, shaq, and amare.

amare's view of the league will be a little different from this point on. :p
photo from Getty Images via Yahoo! Sports

the suns' quest to silence the doubters, unfortunately, must begin with a back-to-back against two of the scariest teams in the league today. the campaign kicks off today against the san antonio spurs on the road, to be immediately followed by a home game versus the new orleans hornets the next day. again, fingers -- dislocated pinkies included -- are crossed.

go suns! eyes still on the prize! ;)

this one is for the high school musical fans... not.

2008-10-20T07:28:00.008+08:00

last week proved to be one of the better ones i've had in terms of finding classic internet gems. here's something i got linked to before the week ended. (salamat, mik!)

taryn southern, i love you!

this is NOT your little sister's high school musical.

they've released three episodes so far, and here they are:
episode 1: first period
episode 2: life's a bitch
episode 3: locker room lovin

visit www.privatehighmusical.com for more taryn southern adorableness... er, i mean to learn more about this ~~nonsense~~ project.

don't shoot the puppy!

2008-10-15T13:23:00.008+08:00

just a little something to kill time -- or an innocent young doggie -- with.

(thanks, bit)

ilabas ang iyong ka-pun-yarihan!!!

2008-10-12T22:25:00.003+08:00

kung di nyo magets (o para mas lalo nyong ma-appreciate yung gimik), mainam na panoorin nyo rin ito.

ang galing mo, Plasticbagman!

HWM October 2008: It's a Small World, After All

2008-10-10T09:15:00.000+08:00

the little ones are taking over, as you all may well be seeing on pc store windows everywhere these days... and this is exactly why they're on the cover of this month's HWM! not really sure what these little laptop-like lookers are and what they can do? we've got 12 pages here for you to learn more -- and perhaps pick a favorite. ;)

but as always, there's a whole lot more going on in the world of the 3Cs (that's computers, communications, and consumer electronics, kids!). check out these other features this month:

on Showcase: color laser multifunction printers for your all-around business needs.
the snazzy Samsung Omnia takes our Spotlight stage as we take a look behind the handset's handsome design.
enjoy gaming and movies, the Blu-ray way!
the stunning Nokia E71 and the ever-popular Apple iPhone 3G reviewed!
your monthly dose of news and commentary, product previews, and even more reviews of the hottest new tech toys!
a chance to win a RedFox Wizbook!

check out the newsstand nearest you today! the top tech updates of the month are waiting for you in october's HWM!

enjoy!